Vital Stats

Name: Melody Decena Wyatt
Email: melodydecena@gmail.com
Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico

Why I decided to transform

I was determined to get my body back after giving birth to my daughter, so I did the only thing I knew how to, which was to run and do callisthenic exercises that I acquired from Army physical training.

In the months following, I met the love of my life while on duty and we started going to the gym together. After we walked through the gym doors, we went our separate ways. He hit the weight room and I continued to be a cardio bunny, which helped me progressively shed the baby weight. After a while, I felt thin and got bored of the same treadmill routine.

When I saw Jamie Eason on Bodybuilding.com, I became inspired and intrigued by the fitness world. I told my boyfriend that I want a body like Jamie's and he explained that I wouldn't get it on the treadmill.

I wanted to embark on a challenge that I'd never done. I desired to live my life with passion. I wanted to feel empowered and live a long, healthy life. I wanted to be an example of willpower to my daughter. I felt drawn in and excited. I knew this journey was meant to be, so I decided to run with it and gave it my all.

How I accomplished my goals

I immersed myself in research. I was intrigued by the newfound lifestyle. The more knowledge I acquired the more motivated and determined I grew. I eliminated bread, sugars, alcohol, and fast food from my diet and started following Jamie Eason's meal plan.

Instead of spending time on the treadmill, I headed for the weights with my man. He encouraged me, motivated me, and opened my eyes to the benefits of lifting heavy. I discovered that the cleaner I ate and the harder I trained, the better my progress was.

Cool Fact

As a food service specialist in the Army National Guard, Melody is
the only female in her unit that is airborne and air assault
qualified with record-breaking PT scores!

When I had a taste of what my body was capable of, I decided to compete, so I picked a show and committed to it. Taking that step gave me the drive to push myself even harder. I wanted to be the best on stage and I refused to look like a fool. Committing to a competition was one of the best decisions I ever made. It helped me develop and strengthen my discipline and willpower.

I look back and can't believe that I thought countless hours of cardio would help me obtain a dream body. I'm grateful that I realized the truth about heavy weights with a clean diet. I grew stronger physically and discovered that I have mental strength. I'm happier, healthier, and have something to strive towards.

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Supplements that helped me through the journey

Diet plan that guided my transformation

Training regimen that kept me on track

I love supersets but couldn't keep up with them when I first started lifting. I had to build my strength and endurance. Last year, I could barely bench the bar or a pull-up. Be patient with your results, but push yourself without overdoing it.

I always do an initial warm-up set with light weight on all exercises then do three working sets by increasing the weight for each set. I typically try to do 20-30 minutes of cardio every other day to get my blood pumping on the stairmaster, elliptical, incline treadmill, or stationary bike.

What aspect challenged me the most

The nutrition took time to get used to. Once I adjusted to a routine eating and training schedule, it became second nature. In the beginning, I felt left out because I gave up going out to eat and partying, but I knew it was worth having abs over a beer belly.

I felt great about what I accomplished. I learned throughout my journey that it's mind over matter. You give up mentally before you give up physically.

My future fitness plans

I'm working to become a certified trainer. I will use this knowledge to better understand how my body works and to educate and inspire others through my passion. I love spreading motivation. It's contagious. It pumps me up when friends, family, and followers say that I'm an inspiration. God gave me a gift to help others reach their goals. It's rewarding to see people become better versions of themselves.

Now that my feet are wet in the competition world, I'm absolutely hooked and cannot wait to continue competing. It gave me something to look forward to and work towards. It's only the beginning for me and my fitness endeavors.

Suggestions for aspiring transformers

How Bodybuilding.com helped me reach my goals

Bodybuilding.com was my initial inspiration to take this step. It's where I discovered Jamie Eason and Dana Linn Bailey, the two athletes who placed the fire in my heart to start eating clean and lifting heavier.

I initially thought it was just an online meathead supplement store, but I soon discovered BodySpace and realized it was an entire online support community of fitness fanatics. It's like having a fitness journal full of information tailored to your needs.

I was able to find example meal plans, recipes, and obtain knowledge on training and contest prep on here. It's impossible to fail when everything you need to know from A-Z is right there.

Melody's Top 5 Gym Tracks

Thanks